Kano: Three dead, one injured in separate fire incidents

Three people have died and one other sustained injuries in two separate fire outbreaks recorded across Kano State on Friday, the Kano State Fire Service has confirmed.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, the first incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. at Kura Market junction along Zaria Road after a petrol tanker carrying 30,000 litres of fuel fell and exploded.

The tanker, with registration number NGZ 250 XA, reportedly knocked down a motorcycle rider before bursting into flames.

According to the fire service, a distress call from a retired Civil Defence officer, Danlami Muhammad, prompted the immediate deployment of firefighters from the service headquarters.

“Upon arrival, our men found the tanker completely engulfed. Four people were involved; three were rescued unconscious and later confirmed dead, while the cyclist survived,” the statement said.

Firefighters, assisted by police and FRSC personnel, eventually extinguished the blaze.

The bodies were handed over to ASP Ahmad Lawan of Kura Police Division.

Two fire trucks—one from the headquarters and another from the Kura station—were deployed. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

The second incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m. at Hamisu Plaza along Maiduguri Road in Taruni Local Government Area.

The upper floor of the two-storey commercial building was already on fire by the time responders arrived.

Three shops were destroyed, but firefighters managed to save the remaining businesses on the lower floors.

A fire truck stationed at the ongoing trade fair responded to the call. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Director of the Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, urged residents to exercise caution, especially during the harmattan period, and advised motorists to obey traffic regulations to prevent avoidable disasters.

The incidents follow a string of recent fire tragedies in the state.

Nine days earlier, four members of a family died in a house fire at Kundila Layin Baba Impossible in Tarauni LGA. Mm

On November 11, no fewer than 25 temporary shops and 19 stores were also destroyed in a blaze at Singer Market in Kano metropolis.